I'm replacing the steering head bearings on the KLX, and have two questions (for now, maybe more later)...

1. What size socket fits the top nut (steering stem head nut)? It is bigger than a 27 and smaller than a 33. I currently don't have any sockets in between those two sizes...

2. Service manual says I need a special tool to remove the stem nut, a Steering Stem Nut Wrench. Can this nut be removed without the tool?

Thanks!

 

You beat me to the punch asking this question. I need to do the same.
I'm afraid greasing won't cut it this time.

 

I think I used a large adjustable cresent wrench. Once you get all the stuff off the triple, you should be able to get the wrench on it.

The "steering stem head nut" is a keyed ring similar to the shock adjustment ring and can be removed & retighten with a screwdriver/hammer, or a "steering stem head nut wrench" or similar keyed wrench.

You will not be able to torque to specification without a wrench though. I don't remember what I used.... probably screwdriver/hammer although if you have a shop you could probably figure something out. I have a bunch of keyed wrenches of various configurations that I could have used also, it has been a while.

I could not get the bottom bushing off the TT & ended up taking just that to a shop and paid to have the new bearing installed. If you come up with a way to get that off, I would like to know how you did it.

 

With a metric ruler, it measures 30mm.

I use large tongue and groove pliers. The special tool is used when you don't want to disassemble the whole steering system. Torque.....snug enough to get all of the play out but not bind the steering. Keep it simple.

Ride on
Brewster

 

30mm socket worked for the head nut, and large pair of pliers worked on the stem nut (it wasn't very tight).

 

And my next question is... anyone have any pointers on getting the old races out? They are really in there tight...

 

You can get them all out of the frame with a piece of conduit sawed to quarters and then splayed out at the end (with the use of a big hammer, of course).
Getting the the bottom race off the triple tree is the problem, as I mentioned before.

 

Okay, races are out, and the bottom bearing is off the triple tree!

The trick for getting the bottom bearing off was a big hammer. I braced the triple tree upside down against my legs, took a piece of pipe and lined it up with the edge of the bearing on the one side where it stuck out far enough to bite something, and beat on it a few times. Inspected, and it had moved 1/8". So I just kept beating on it, and eventually it came off...

Next up, installing the new races!

 

New races are in! And I just realized my tube of bearing grease is empty, so I'm done for tonight.

The only hard part left is pressing the new lower bearing onto the stem. Have other plans for tomorrow so it will likely be Sunday before I get it all put back together again...

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

If you throw the triple/stem in the freezer it should help getting the bearing in place. Hot bearing/cold stem will allow it to slide together.